The correct answer is B. The location and environment of the Middle Colonies allowed settlers to establish farms and grow grains.
The Middle Colonies was the name given to the middle part of the Thirteen Colonies, the colonies of the British Empire that later separated and established the United States, which lied between Virginia and New England.
The Middle Colonies had large areas of fertile soil, which made the area a major exporter of wheat and other cereals. The timber and shipbuilding industries also enjoyed prosperity in the Middle Colonies due to the abundance of forests in the area, and Pennsylvania achieved moderate success in the iron and textile industries.
Until April 6th, 1917, America was still a declared neutral state and she had tried to keep out of World War 1. However, she had economic relationships with nations involved in the war such as loans and financial support. American Secretary of State William Jennings opposed this financial support of warring nations, arguing that refusing to loan to any Allied nations in Europe would help to accelerate the end of the war. Even though President Wilson agreed at first, he retreated this when France argued that if it was not legal to take out credits from America, then it was not legal to buy American goods as well.
Regarding this, the American steel industry had faced declining profits during the Recession of 1913–1914. And when the war began in Europe, the increased demand for tools of war began a period of intensified productivity that relieved many U.S. industrial companies.
